God Will Make All Things New
There are days when the world seems to have gone completely out of control. Natural disasters: Fires raging, flood waters rising, and man made disasters: wars and policies emanating from evil regimes that cause untold pain and suffering. As a minister, I have been asked when God this will set things in this world right. Revelation answers that question. Revelation 21:1-9 says that God will act in history to do away with old things and will make all things new. This sinful world that we live in now, won’t be fixed, instead it must pass away. In its place, God will create a new heaven and earth that will not come with the pain, sorrows and travails of this world. In this New Jerusalem, God’s people will enjoy the presence and fellowship of God. As you study this word this week, May the God who makes all things new, give you new life, new joy, new peace and new hope!
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5). In this passage we see God ushering in a new era in history. The new heaven and new earth come at the onset of the eternal fellowship God and His people (“God’s dwelling place is now among the people…”). This is the fulfillment of Christ’s work to restore fully our relationship with God. This new era in history will also be distinguished by what is not present in New Jerusalem…death, sorrow, crying, and pain are no more! God declared from His throne, that He was making all things new (not just new, but better!). Sin and it’s destruction won’t be present in this New Jerusalem.
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars —they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:6-8). “It is done”…God’s plan of redemption and restoration is complete. Receiving the water of life from God will be the ultimate refreshing experience for God’s people, who are weary and have thirsted for this time to be with God, eternally in His presence. These (we) are the victorious ones, and they (we) will be allowed to enter New Jerusalem. But those who have opposed Jesus, will be denied entry into New Jerusalem. Instead of eternal peace, joy and fellowship with God, they will be delivered over into the lake of fire to live there eternally (“second death”).
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:9). This passage ends on a beautiful note. John had seen all that will happen in the end times, was now allowed to see the consummation of God’s plan for eternal fellowship with His people. In what was undoubtedly a highly emotional experience, He was shown New Jerusalem (the Lamb’s bride) by an angel.
We have this hope in God for a better life, and He will not disappoint. He gives to all who love Him, new life, new beginnings and new joys here in this present world, even amidst all of its brokenness. But His word also assures us that the day is coming when the heartache and pain that we see and experience in this world will no longer plague us. Because He will create a place for us where we will all enjoy fellowship with Him in a world free of the ravages of sin. None of the old things that have destroyed this world will be present because God will do away with them. And as He wipes every tear from our eyes, we will receive the victory over everything that tried to defeat us. Those things will cease to exist ….and behold, He will make all things new!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
